Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Saturday, 19 January 2013 9:32:03 AM

Please consider this email a formal submission by me to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012.

The current disability system has many problems that need to be addressed.

We found that the wait for a specialised wheelchair was so long we were forced to hire one for some considerable time. When the wheelchair arrived the seating support was unsatisfactory. Our daughter slides down in the chair and often dislodges the seat belt. We are pleased with her care but would like more outdoor activities for her. We have been fortunate that our children were able to finally find a purpose built facility for young people, but we know that there are many others waiting in Nursing Home care. Our young people had to wait six and five years respectively,to gain access, during which time their possible independence was compromised, it was really too late for our son who only had nine months in the facility before he died.

The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• More rights for people with a disability,
• Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Therapy and allied health services,
• Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I suppose we have been fighting for so long to have our children accommodated in appropriate care that we have to say we would like it to be easier for others. When our children were placed in Nursing Home Care we were often criticised by the staff and others that we would place them in care at all. People not knowing our circumstances would be asking why we could not care for them at home. Early access to case management and support would have been appreciated, but everywhere we turned there was no support or even counselling offered. I was a qualified social worker and had worked in disability care, and still could not work out the system to support our children with acquired brain injury. I pray that NDIS will simplify the process for people facing the same dilemmas as ourselves. We are sure that if we support the scheme it will succeed. By then we may have lost our last child but it will be worth the emotional pain and suffering to see it take off!

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Leona Jones